Chapter 7-Reed's POV
I woke up to find myself on a white, puffy cloud. It was so soft and fluffy, bending into a shape that made me feel comfortable every time I moved. My eyes hurt at the sudden burst of light. Was I really dead? I sat up and looked around. The sky was a pinky orange. Wow this really must be heaven. It was practically my idea of a perfect day; it was sunset and it was warm, but not too warm and definitely not hot. A cool breeze swept my soft hair back from my face, sending shivers all the way up my spine. I stood up, wondering what I was wearing. My sapphire blue gown was gone. What was I wearing? Was I wearing anything at all? Oh god, I can't be naked in heaven, what would people think? Suddenly, a beautifully carved, huge, gold mirror appeared before my eyes. I stared.
I looked almost ethereal, like I would float away, at the slightest breeze. My sapphire blue gown was replaced with a beautiful white and gold silk dress, that had a key hole front and entwining shoulder straps. It was beautiful, so airy, so light, so elegant.
"I hoped you wouldn't join me for a while." A calm voice whispered behind me.
I turned around. And gasped. I couldn't believe what was before my eyes. There, stood Thomas Pearson, his dark blond hair, perfectly tousled and coiffed to perfection. He wore a white linen shirt which showed off his buttery tan and was unbuttoned enough to be able to see his smooth, chiselled chest. A black rope necklace with two silver dog tags hung loosely from his neck. His shirt was accompanied with blue plaid shorts and white canvas plimsolls, making him look perfect in every way.
"Thomas," I whispered, it was the only response I could formulate.
"Reed, please go back." He said, he was a few feet away, his voice calm and soothing. He spoke so quietly, that I had no idea how I could hear him. It was as if he was standing right next to me.
My face screwed up with confusion. "What do you mean? I can't go back. I'm dead. I'm in heaven....aren't I?"
"Not yet, you reach heaven when you walk through those gates." He pointed.
I could see nothing but white clouds. "What gates?" Just then, two clouds drifted apart, revealing a huge, tall golden gate with the sign "Heaven" just above it.
"You have a choice Reed, you can make something of yourself, all those things you told me you wanted to do in your life, you can still make it happen. You're smart and you're extremely beautiful, you'll go really far." He told me passionately, ending his speech with one of my favourite crooked smiles.
I wanted to go back, I really did. "But Thomas, you've seen all the pain I've caused, you and Cheyenne have died because of me-"
"We chose to die Reed." He interrupted. "We both had a choice, and we decided to walk beyond the gates."
"But, why?" I asked.
"Cheyenne never told me her reason, she talks about nothing of the past, only the future. She listens of course, but never talks about it." A frown appeared on his handsome face, "But I chose to die so that I could protect you."
"What by leaving me with Ariana and her psycho sister? Yeah, you really protected me." I replied sarcastically.
Thomas sighed patiently. "Don't you get it Reed? If you hadn't found those pictures on Kiran's camera, then everything would've been fine. With me gone, Ariana would no longer have a reason to kill you. She would've left you alone."
I nodded with understanding. "But that still doesn't change the fact about all the danger I've put my friends in. Which one will die next Thomas? I can't face another death, knowing that it's my fault that they're dead."
"Please Reed, go back for me. You have so much to offer the world. You can change people, you changed me. And from the looks of things you've changed Noelle as well. You touch people in a way I thought impossible." He begged.
Oh god, he's resulted to begging, I felt myself start to cave, but just then, a picture of Ariana's icy, cold stares' appeared in my mind. "I'm sorry Thomas." I said, striding over towards the golden gates. They opened automatically, I was just about to walk through, when Thomas' hand shot out and pulled me back.
Noelle's POV
It was about 8 in the morning right now. Reed had been in hospital for about 2 hours. We had all visited, but Kiran, Taylor and I were the only three that remained. Upton, had tried to visit, but I had forced him all the way out of the hospital. I am not letting that jerk in here. This was all his fault. Dammit Noelle, it's also your fault as well. I should've never encouraged Reed. I can't believe I had thought he had changed. Sure he seemed in love, but I bet it had all been an act in order to get into Reed's pants. He was probably only visiting to pretend he wasn't the bad guy. The one who had lost her. The one who had left her behind to chase one of his exes. God I loathed that guy, but not as much as I loathed myself for playing the matchmaker.
Taylor and Kiran had gone downstairs to get me a cup of coffee from Starbucks, they had insisted. I hated hospital coffee vending machines, and I always will, which was why they had to walk two blocks there and back to get me a coffee from the well-renowned coffee shop. I hadn't slept the whole night, and oddly I didn't seem cranky or feel tired, I didn't feel anything in fact apart from anxiety, worry and guilt. Three very negative emotions I wasn't used to feeling. I was no longer the confident Noelle Lange who had always been sure of everything, who was so strong. I was weak, and it was out of my own carelessness and stupidity. Reed and I were left alone. I felt awkward and clumsy. Not knowing what to do, what to feel, and how to react to the situation. So much history between us, so much we lost, so much I lost. When did everything get so complicated? It seemed just yesterday that the St. Barths gang were all in diapers rolling around without a care in the world. When had the world turned so wrong? When had I turned so wrong?
I stood, watching her. Her breathing was more even now, and the doctors had stabilised her. They had operated on her as soon as we got here. She looked so fragile and tiny. You never would've thought she was the strong and stubborn type. She reminded me of myself, back in the good all days, when things hadn't been so complicated, when there wasn't drama. I'm sorry Reed. This is all my fault. The sound of the steady beeps that came from the Holter monitor soothed me. It meant that Reed was alive, in a coma yes, but still alive. Suddenly, the steady beeps began to get faster and faster. No, this can't be happening. Reed, come back, come back to us. A dozen doctors and nurses came through the door in an instant. And I was left standing there, helpless to the fact that I was losing her. My best friend was going to dieā¦.
Quite a long chapter. So tell me what you think, too much? Too little? I need your views.
C
